ABSTRACT
Several authors have reported encouraging results after treatment with balloon angioplasty with stenting in this progressive condition. Sharma et al. (20) report their experience with carotid angioplasty and stenting in six patients. In one patient the guidewire could not be negotiated through the block. One patient was reported to develop a transient ischemic attack during the procedure. All patients were said to experience ‘‘good relief of symptoms’’ immediately after the procedure. However, two patients developed restenosis and became symptomatic again after 5 months. Maskovic et al. (21) report successful angioplasty in a young woman with stroke, who had good lasting benefit even after 6 months. Takahashi et al. (22) from Japan report a young woman with Takayasu’s disease who underwent a two-step procedure for angioplasty and stent placement in both common carotid arteries. Follow-up angiography 2 years later did not reveal any restenosis. In spite of these encouraging results, the general impression is that the rate of restenosis after angioplasty is much higher among patients with Takayasu’s disease compared to those with atherosclerosis (23,24). Although further long-term data are needed, angioplasty and stenting may be an attractive option for patients who remain symptomatic.
